Garrett Wins Lifetime Diversity Award

State Board Report

October 2015

Nathan T. Garrett, NASBA Chair 1992-93, was presented the 2015 Lifetime Achievement in Diversity Award by the Triangle Business Journal. Mr. Garrett opened the first African-American CPA practice in North Carolina. He told the September 10, 2015 presentation ceremony: "In the mid-1970s, when many were still strongly resisting civil rights for non-whites and women, we built a diverse firm of partners and staff. Of five partners, two were women and three were men. We were a model for diversity back in the 1970s."

Mr. Garrett began his CPA career in Michigan, where he was the fifth African-American CPA licensed in the state. He practiced in North Carolina from 1964 until 2004. Mr. Garrett was NASBA’s first African-American chair and was awarded NASBA’s William H. Van Rensselaer Award in 2001. NASBA President and CEO Ken Bishop expressed his happiness that "a great leader in the profession like Nathan Garrett continues to receive recognition for his contributions."